Coin computing device for coin-controlled vending machines



Oct. 28, 1952 H. .1. DOLMAN 2,615,545

COIN COMPUTING DEVICE FOR COIN-CONTROLLED VENDING MACHINES Filed March50, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.1

lNVENTOR l/Ilh amas Oct. 28, 1952 H. J. DOLMAN 2,615,545

COIN COMPUTING DEVICE FOR GOIN-CONTROLLED VENDING MACHINES Filed March50, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 l/v VEN TOR Ale 0 r-y .7 M .44 Y Po/mq H. J.DOLMAN 2,615,545 com COMPUTING DEVICE FOR COIN-CONTROLLED Oct. 28, 1952VENDING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 30 1945 /N VE N TOR A TTORNE Y! 1 2 2 Z 1 1 9 o 8 o 0 1 m F lk 5 4 O m m H. J. DOLMAN COINCOMPUTING DEVICE FOR COIN-CONTROLLED VENDING MACHINES Oct. 28, 1952 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 30, 1945 IN vs NTOR l/mr Inna DJn-u ATTORNEY!Patented Oct. 28, 1952 COIN COMPUTING DEVICE FOR COIN- CONTROLLEDVENDING MACHINES Henry James Dolman, Staple Hill, Bristol, England,assignor to Brecknell, Munro & Rogers Limited, Bristol, England, aBritish company Application March 30, 1945, Serial No. 585,623 In GreatBritain April 3, 1944 6 Claims.

This invention relates to coin computing devices for coin controlledapparatus of the type comprising a totaliser that is displacedelectrically from its initial position by the passage of a coin or coinsinto the apparatus and to an extent dependent on the value of suchcoinage, and which is returned to its initial position on the operationof the coin controlled apparatus.

The object of the present invention is to provide a device of the abovetype that shall be reliable in its operation, and in which its mechanismfor effecting the return of the totaliser only requires a momentaryactuation.

One form of coin computing device for a coin controlled vending machinein accordance with the preesnt invention is diagrammatically indicatedin the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the totaliser mechanism with part of thefront cover I03 removed, and also includes electrical wiring wherebysolenoids are energized by the inserted coins closing switches as theypass down the coin passageways.

Fig. 2 is a plan on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 with the parts mounted on theback plate 60 above the disc 30 omitted for clearness.

Fig. 3 is a side section on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1, but with thecranked arm 34 shown as in section. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing how the computing device may control theoperation of a coin controlled mechanism.

' Fig. 6 is a View showing to a larger scale the disengaging member 8 lretaining member H and movable stop member 90, all in the same positionsas those indicated in Fig. 1. s Fig. '7 is a view corresponding to Fig.6 but showing the parts 8|, TI and 90 in their displaced positions dueto the sliding of an article delivery drawer. Certain parts are omittedfrom this drawing for clearness.

Fig. 8 is a view to an enlarged scale showing the lifting surface on thedriving pawl.

Fig. 9 is a view on the line 99 of Fig. 6 but with the screw 16,retaining member 1| and stop 95 omitted for clearness.

It is understood that the vending machine comprises the known types ofcoin slots in the outer casing of the machine communicating withpassageways that lead to the interior mechanism, and extending into saidpassageways are pairs of contact fingers adapted to be momentarilybrought together by the passage of a coin. If desired two or more suchpairs of fingers may be included in series in a passageway orpassageways.

Thus a /2d. passageway 20i may include one pair of contacts 206 while a1d. passageway 202 may include two, 201 and 208, and so on. (See Figure1.)

Such pairs of fingers as above described constitute electric switcheslocated in the coin insertion passageways and their use will behereinafter described.

Each switch is connected through an electric supply to a solenoid sothat each time said switch is closed (by the passage of a coin) thesolenoid is energized.

Two such solenoids are illustrated (particularly see Fig. 1) in which Iindicates a solenoid operable by a threepenny bit (i. e. the wires areconnected to a switch in a threepenny bit coin passageway) and 2 asolenoid operable by a halfpenny, the solenoid i being secured to theback 98 of the mechanism and 2 to the side I00.

The wires, 3, 4 of said solenoids lead through a common electric supplynot shown, to one finger of the switches in the respective coinpassageways, and the wires 5, 6 to the second fingers of said switches.It will thus be appreciated that each time the switch in the threepennybit passagewayis momentarily closed, the solenoid I will be energized,whilst closure of the switch in the halfpenny passageway energizes thesolenoid 2.

The armature I of the solenoid l is connected by a link 8 to the righthand side (as seen in Fig. l) of an oscillating member 0 which ispivoted on a spindle [5 (Fig. 3) and the armature l0 of the solenoid 2is extended to provide a tappet II which is adapted to drive said member9 through a lug l2 provided at the left hand side thereof.

Instead of operating one solenoid through a link and one through atappet, both said solenoidsrnay act on the same side of the pivotal axisof the member 9 and thus may both work through tappets or both thoughlinks. Referring to Fig. 3, the spindle l5 passes through a boss 26 onthe back 98 of the mechanism and is secured thereto by a nut 21 and itis increased in diameter at 29 where the oscillating member 9 pivots.

A spring I3 secured at one end to a fixed part of the mechanism and atthe other end to an ear M on the member 9 biasses said member in ananticlockwise direction against a stop l6 whilst movement in theclockwise direction is limited by a stop 11.

The stops I6 and I! are constituted by screws ,the member 9 may freelyoscillate.

3 secured to the backplate 69 to be hereinafter described.

The solenoids and 2 are so wired that energization of either of themacts to move the member 9 in a clockwise direction against the action ofthe spring l3.

It will be seen from Fig. 1 that the upper end I8 of the link 6 isslotted at !9 while an extension 29 of the member 9 is bent over so asto provide two bearings for a pin 2|, see especially Fig. 2. Whenassembling the mechanism, the pin 2| is passed through one of itsbearings, through the slot l9 and then through the second bearing and isfinally secured by a split pin 22. This arrangement allows of lostmotion between the link 8 and the member 9 and so permits said member torock a short distance in a clockwise direction without moving thearmature T.

The member 9 is also bent over at 23 to provide a pair of bearings for asecond pin 24 said pin providing a pivotal mounting for a driving pawl25, said pawl being biased by a spring so that it normally engages theteeth of a toothed member comprising a totaliser disc 39.

Referring particularly to Figs. 3 and 4, the spindle l5 includes a fixeddistance piece 28 arranged at such a distance from the boss 26 that Thecontinuation of the spindle l5 remote from the boss provides at 3| 2.free bearing for the totaliser disc 39 and an associated cranked arm 34,and said spindle is then cut down and screw threaded at 32.

The totaliser disc 30 includes a stop or lug 33 for a purpose to behereinafter described.

Secured to the face of the disc 30 is the cranked arm 34 above referredto, constructed from insulating material, e. g. ebonite. The arm 34comprises a disc portion 35, adapted to pass over a boss 35 provided onthe disc 30, a cranked portion 31 webbed at 38, and a channelled portion39. The arm 34 is secured to the face of the disc 30 by means ofcounter-sunk screws, one of which 49, is indicated in Fig. 3. A terminalscrew 4| is screwed into the ebonite disc 35.

The portion 39 is channelled at 43 throughout its length and saidchannel provides a slideway for a brass contact finger 44. Bridge pieces45 and 46 screwed to the portion 39 permit only of longitudinal movementof the finger 44. The finger .4 is turned up at its inner end (i. e. theend towards the spindle l5) said turned up end providing an anchor forone end of a coil spring 4'! whose other end is connected to the outerbridge piece 46. It will thus be seen that the finger 44 is biasedradially outwards as regards the spindle l5. A conductor wire 48connects the terminal 4| to the bridge piece 45 and hence to the finger44 due to the latter having slidable contact with the lower side of saidbridge piece. It will be seen that the tip of the finger 44 traces acircle when the cranked arm 34 is moved by the rotary disc 39.

A thin insulation disc 42 (see Fig. 4) is also passed over the boss 36and this acts to protect the heads of the screws, such as 49, fromcontact with any electric conductors. A hole is pierced in the disc 42to permit the terminal 4| to pass therethrough.

An ebonite sleeve 49 is then screwed onto the screw 32 so that it bearsfirmly against the right hand end (as seen in Fig. 3) of the freebearing 3|, but a slight clearance (say .002") is left between saidsleeve and the disc 42. Further the boss 36 is some .002 shorter thanthe length of the bearing 3|. The above arrangement ensures that thesleeve 49 is rigidly secured to the spindle 5 but leaves the disc 30 andassociated cranked arm 34 freev to rotate on the bearing 3|.

The sleeve 49 is turned down at 53 and a brass ring 5| is slidden alongsaid turned down portion and secured theret by means of a screw 52. Acoil spring 53 is then fitted over the sleeve 49, one end of said springbeing anchored under the terminal 4| and the other under the screw 52.

A washer 54 providing an attachment for a conductor 55 is also sliddenover the portion 50 and is held in position by an insulating cap 56which in turn is held firmly by the nut 57.

The spring 53 serves two purposes, firstly its direction of operation isarranged so that it tends to turn the disc 30 and arm 34 in a clockwisedirection, and secondly it serves as an electric conductor acting toconnect the terminal 4| to the screw 52 and consequently the finger 44to the conductor 55.

The construction of the disengaging member, retaining device and movablestop member will now be described. See Figs. 6, '7, 8 and 9.

Webs 58 and 59 rojecting from the back 98 provide supports for the backplate 60 hereinbefore referred to, said plate including forwardly bentflanges 6|, 62 and 63, for purposes to be hereinafter described, andsaid plate 60 is secured to the webs 58, 59 by counter-sunk screws 64,65.

A plate is secured to the back plate .60 by screws H2 and II 3 and saidplate includes a U-shaped flange 69 which provides a pair of bearingsfor a pin 6'! that carries a non-return member or pawl 68, said pawlbeing biased by a spring 69 anchored to the plate so that its tooth l0normally engages with a tooth on the periphery of the disc 39. The plateI! l is adjustably secured by the screws H2 and H3 in that a smallpivotal adjustment is provided by passing the screw l3 through a slotinthe plate. This permits accurate engagement of the pawl 68 with theteeth of the disc 39.

A three armed lever H is pivotally secured to the back plate 60 by meansof a screw 12, a collar (not shown) being provided between said lever Hand the back plate 69 so it is normally free to pivot in a plane infront of the pawl 68 (as seen in Fig. 6), thus its tail l3 lies in frontof the disc 39 as seen in that figure. The lever II is biased in aclockwise direction by a spring 14 and is cut away at 15 for a purposeto be hereinafter described. An adjust able stop 76 screwed to thefiange 63 limits movement of the lever in an anticlockwise direction,while the stop 33 on the disc 30, due to the spring 53, tends to moveagainst the tail 13 to hold the lever 1| against said stop 16.

The pawls 25 and 68 are constructed of greater width than that of thedisc 30 with which they engage, the arrangement being such that saidgreater width lies to the left of the disc 3|] as viewed in Fig. 3,where however, only the pawl 68 is shown, and further, such greaterwidth is cut away to provide a lifting surface 11 for a purpose to behereinafter described. The pawl 25 is cut away in similar manner toprovide a lifting surface I8, see Fig. 8.

To the backplate 60 there is also attached by means of screws 19, 80 aslide 9|, said slide being slotted at 82, 83 and turned up into a flange84 so that, due to a spring 85 secured to said flange 84 and the screwI9, the slide SI normally assumes the position with the upper end of itsslots 82, 83 in contact with the screws, as seen in Fig. 6, i. e. theslide will normally be in the position shown in that figure. Referringparticularly to Fig. 4, the slide BI is attached adjacent the backplate60 andis cranked slightly forward at I84 so that its lower end I85 liesin the same plane as the lifting surfaces 11, I8 of the pawls 68, 25 andbelow said lifting surfaces. The lower end I85 is extended to providelifting prongs 86, 81 (see Fig. 6) adapted to engage when desired withthe lifting surfaces 11, 18 as will be hereinafter described. It will beobserved that when the slide BI is slidden against the action of thespring 85 this will act to lift the said pawls 68, 25 and disengage themfrom the toothed disc 30 and thus said slide constitutes disengagingmeans adapted to disengage the pawls from the said disc.

The disengaging member 8| is provided with a turned'up tongue at 88,said tongue being adapted to engage with its lower edge 89 against thecut away portion 15 of the lever II when said lever has rocked in aclockwise direction, 1. e. when the stop 33 on the disc has been movedclear of the tail 13 of the lever, coincident with the member 8i beingin its uppermost or stressed position, and it acts to detainthedisengaging member in that position, thus said lever II constitutes aretaining device that acts to retain the member iii in its uppermostposition.

In a plane intermediate the retaining member II and the disengagingmember 0| there is provided a second three armed lever 00, said leverbeing pivoted on a screw SI and a collar (not shown) is provided behindthe lever to maintain it in the required plane.

One arm 32 of the lever 00 is connected by suitable linkage(diagrammatically indicated by HG) to an article delivery mechanism, e.g. to a manually reciprocable drawer. The second arm 33 of the lever 00includes an anchor for a spring 84, whose other end is secured to theflange 6|, said spring biasing the lever 90 in an anticlockwisedirection against an I adjustable stop85 secured to the flange 62.

The tip of the arm 93 comprises a flat surface 96 and normally liesparallel to the back of the pawl 25 but is spaced a short distance, say.002 therefrom to prevent jamming between said surface and back when thelever 00 is rocked.

It will be appreciated that the arm 33 in the position indicated in Fig.6 acts to stop the pawl 25 being lifted from the disc 30, but that whenthe lever 90 is moved to bring its arm 33 clear from the pawl (see Fig.7), said pawl may then be brought clear from the disc, and thus thelever 90 constitutes a movable stop member that acts to hold the pawl inengagement with said disc.

The third arm 91, which as previously explained lies in a plane betweenthat of the disengaging member BI and the detaining member II, normallylies below and spaced apart from the edge 88 of the tongue 88. Ihe spaceleft therebetween is sufficient to permit the lever 9b to turn clear ofthe pawl 25 before engagement ensues between the said third arm 91 andthe edge 89.

The majority of the mechanism so far described, i. e. with the exceptionof the drawer mechanism, coin passageways, etc. is enclosed within aboxlike structure comprising the back 88, sides 09, I00, IOI, I02, and.a covieror front I03, the latter being constituted by a sheetof eboniteor other insulating. material screwed to the sides at I03, I04, I05,I05. A portion of the side I02 at I0! is removed to allowthe arm 92 ofthe three armed lever 00 to extend therethrough.

Referring to the cover I03 which is only'shown in part in Figs. 1-4, acircular panel is removed from the upper portion thereof, the centre ofsuch circle corresponding to the centre of the spindle I5, and aroundsaid panel there is drilled a circular row of holes I08, the radius ofsuch circle being approximately the same as that of the circle traced bythe tip of the contact finger M when said finger is in its outermostposition.

If desired there may also be provided a row of holes I09, electricallyconnected together, .at some position below the circular panel for apurpose to be hereinafter described.

Each hole in the circular row I88 corresponds to a tooth of the disc 30,that is to say that each time the disc 30 is turned through an anglecorresponding to the distance between one tooth and the next, thecontact finger 44 will also be moved through the same angle and thiswill bring its tip opposite the next succeeding hole, and so on. Thus ifthe disc 30 is moved from zero (itsinitial position) through six teeth,the tip of the finger 44 will also be moved to lie adjacent thesixthhole.

It will be observed from Figs. 1 and 5 that the initial or zero positionof the disc 30 corresponds to the finger 44 being at approximately 5oclock,

" this position being fixed dueto the stop 33 engaging the tail 13 ofthe lever II and said lever being engaged by the stop l0.

As illustrated in the drawings, each tooth of the disc 30 corresponds toone halfpenny, and accordingly each hole in the circular row I38 alsocorresponds to one half penny, but it is obvious that any desiredstandard could be used. Further for the purpose of illustration it isindicated that the disc may turn through a maximum angle correspondingto three shillings, i. e. seventy-two teeth and seventy-two holes.

Referring particularly to Fig. 5, in a. convenient form the wire 55leads to a source of electric power (not shown), thence to two solenoidsII'I, I I8 (in parallel), from which the conductors I I9, I20 includeplugs I2I, I22, which are inserted in two of the sockets in the row I03.

As previously described, these sockets I69 are electrically connectedand the row constitutes a junction box from which the single wire I24,provided with a plug I25, leads to one of the sockets or holes in thecircular row I08.

Fig. 5 shows diagrammatically the article delivery mechanisms comprisingreciprocable drawers H6 and I21 that in this case are intended tooperate at 2/4d. They are provided with handles I20 and I20 that may begrasped by a purchaser to obtain access to the contents. I34 representsthe outside casing of the vending machine.

The drawers I26, I21 are each provided with a locking unit comprisingtwo-armed levers I30, I3I, pivoted about fixed points I32, I33, whoseclaws I35, I36 normally prevent the drawers being opened, springs I31,I38 being provided that bias the levers in an anticlockwise direction asviewed in Fig. 5. Pins I58, I68 provide stops for the levers I30, I3I.

The arms I39, I40 of said levers I30, I3I are connected through links tothe armatures of the solenoids H1, II8 respectively, so that when saidsolenoids are energized, the levers I30, I3I will be rocked in aclockwise direction to free the drawers for operation by a purchaser.

It will be appreciated that the plug I may be inserted in any one of thesockets I08 and hence said plug and its associated wiring I2I, IIS andsolenoid I I1 comprises an adjustable electric control circuit that maybe energized to move the corresponding locking unit I and release theassociated drawer I25.

Similarly the plug I25 and its associated wiring I22, I20 and solenoid II8 comprises an adjustable electric control circuit that may beenergized to move the corresponding locking unit ISI and rea lease thedrawer I21.

Instead of using two solenoids I I1, I I8, one only (e. g. II1) may beused, and the evers I30, I3i mechanically coupled together.

Mechanical means are provided to prevent more than one released drawerbeing operated at a time.

Thus fixed to the bed of the vending machine between the drawers is aguide I42 that provides a mounting for a slide I43. Angular notches I44,I are cut in the sides of the drawers and the ends of the slide are cutto correspond with the notches. The length of the slide is such thatwhen completely, say, to the left as seen in Fig. 5, the point I45 isjust clear of the drawer I21 and thus said drawer is free to be sliddenwhen unlocked.

This arrangement renders unavailable any drawer other than the onechosen, since an attempt to slide the drawer I25 will act to move theslide I43 towards the right, as seen in Fig. 5, into the path of thedrawer I21, and thus render said drawer I21 unavailable.

Beneath and at or towards the back of each drawer there is provided adownwardly extending lug I41 and this is adapted to coact with a leverI48 fixed to a rod I49 pivotally mounted in the casing of the machine.The rod I49 has rigidly secured thereto a lever I50 which is attached bythe linkage II6 to the arm 92 of the lever so that when a drawer hasbeen slightly opened the lug I41 strikes the lever I48 causing the rodI49 to turn about its pivots which depresses the lever i50 and moves thearm 02, and this acts, as will be hereinafter described, to return thetotaliser disc to zero.

The lug I41 is extended rearwardly so that it holds the lever I50 in itsdepressed position all the time the drawer is open so that the arm 90 isheld down throughout that time.

Alternatively, spring controlled lost motion may be provided between thelever I48 and the rod I49, so that the drawer imparts one singlemomentary actuation to the rod I49 and thus to the arm 92.

The apparatus works in the following manner:

The parts are normally in the position indicated in Fig. l, with theoscillating member 9 in an approximately horizontal position and itsright hand end bearing against the stop I5; the totaliser disc 30, dueto the spring 53, engaging its stop 33 against the tail 13 of thedetaining member TI and thus pressing said member against the stop 16;the cranked arm 34 at approximately 5 oclock; the pawls 25 and 68engaging teeth in the rotary disc 30; the disengaging member 8| in itslowermost or unstressed position clear or" the pawls 25, 08; the movablestop member 90 in its extreme anticlockwise position against the stopand the solenoids I and 2 in their uppermost and lowermost positionsrespectively.

The coin passageway switches are in their open positions (i. e. thecircuits to the solenoids I, 2 are incomplete) and the drawers arelocked by the members I30, I3I.

For the purpose of the description it will be assumed that it is desiredto operate the vending machine for say 1/2d. and 2/4d. and that thedrawers in Fig. 5 are the 2/4d. ones.

A plug I55 will be inserted in the 28th hole and a plug I25 in the 56thhole, the former leading to the l/2d. drawers (not shown in thedrawings) and the latter being connected to the wire I24 as indicated.

It will also be assumed that the machine is provided with ed, 1d., 3d.,6d, and l/- slots on the outside, thus there wil be five coinpassageways 20I to 205 (see Figure 1) leading to the interior of themachine. The d. passageway will include one switch 205 and the 1d. two,201 and 208 (see Figure 1), these being included in the circuit to thesolenoid 2. The 3d. passageway one switch 200, the 6d. two, 2I0'and 2 II, and the 1/ four, 2I2 to 2I5, all in the circuit to the solenoid I. Itis to be understood that after passing the switches, the coinpassageways lead to a till.

Further it will be assumed that there are two drawers to be madeoperable at each of the above prices.

It is to be understood, however, that any desired number of passagewaysand drawers may be utilised. Further, drawers may be provided to operateat any price between zero and the maximum number of holes in the rowI08.

If now a purchaser wishes to obtain an article at say 2/4d. and themoney he possesses includes 1/-, two 6d., 3d. and 1d., the device willwork as follows:

The 1/- is placed in the 1/- slot and during its movement down thepassageway it closes in turn each of the four switches. These switcheswhich, as above mentioned, are included in the circuit to the solenoidI, will each act to complete said circuit and energize the solenoid.Thus the solenoid I is momentarily energized four times in succession.Each movement of the armature I, through the link 8, pulls the righthand end of the oscillating member 9 down against the stop I1-thisposition is illustrated in chain lines at I23 in Fig. G-this acts todrag the pawl 25 downwards across six teeth of the disc 30, and also tostress the spring I3, movement of the disc being prevented by thenon-return pawl 60. The spring I 3 then reasserts itself to return themember 9 to its original position against the stop I6, but during thisreturn motion, since the pawl 25 will engage the totaliser disc 30 itwill act to turn said disc and the cranked arm 34 through an anglecorresponding to six teeth. Thus the solenoid comprises means operatedby the inserted coin adapted to drive the rotary toothed disc 30 in onedirection.

Similar movement of the member 9, and consequently of the disc 30 andcranked arm 34, takes place for each of the 6d. bits, but only twiceinstead of four times in each case, and the 3d. bit operates it onceonly.

Each switch (two) in the 1d. passageway on being closed by the passageof a coin completes the circuit to the solenoid 2 and this, through itstappet I l, lifts the left hand side of the member 5' through a distancecorresponding to one tooth at each energization. The sum of the numherof teeth moved by the totaliser disc 30 as above described will befifty-six, and this movement will-bring the cranked arm 34 so that .itsfinger 44 is in contact with the plug I25.

It will be-observed that the totaliser disc 30 is displaced electrically(through the solenoids I I andZ) to an extent dependent on the totalvalue of the coins inserted, in this case 2/4d., and that in suchposition its acts to complete the control circuit concerned and releasethe locking unit of the ccresponding article delivery mechanisms.

Referring again to Fig. 5, it will be appreciated that rotation of thefinger M to the fifty-sixth hole would complete the circuit to thesolenoids H1 and H8, thus rocking the levers i550 and I3I to the chainline position tounlock the drawers l20, I21. Thus the control circuitcorresponding to the value of the coins inserted (2/4d.) is energizedand its locking unit moved to release the drawers.

The purchaser then pulls the chosen drawer (say I21) and this acts torender unavailable the drawer E26 and in a similar manner any otherdrawers at 2/4d. and also to present the article so that it may beremoved.

The operation of the coin controlled apparatus, i. e. pulling the drawerill acts by depressing the lever itl, and turning the rod H58 and leveri551 and hence moving the linkage I It to pulldownwards the'arm 92 ofthe stop memher so (This position is illustrated in Fig. 7.), and thisreturns the totaliser to its initial position as the following actiontakes place (see especially Figs. 6, 7 and 9).

The stop member 90 turns in a clockwise direction, first bringing thetip of its arm 93 clear of the back of the pawl 25; the arm 91 thenstrikes the edge iii?) of the tongue 88 and slides the disengagingmember 8| upwards. This, through its prongs 85 and 81, lifts the pawls Zand 68, thus freeing the disc 36 to return to zero under the action ofth sprin 53. To ensure that the member 8| is held up until the disc 30has returned to zero, the lever II comes into operation. Thus as themember BI is raised to the top of its stroke, the lever II (which sincethe stop 33 has moved clear of its tail 13 at first rests against theleft hand side of the tongue 88 as seen in Fig. 6) turns further in acl-ock wise direction to bring its cut away portion I5 beneath the edge89 of the tongue 88 (see Fig. 7) and so detain the disengaging member atthe top of its stroke. The last movement of the disc 30 as it comes tozero causes its stop 33 to strike the tail I3 forcing the cut awayportion 15 out of engagement with the edge 85, and thus the disengagingmember 0! is no longer held up, thereby.

The return of the drawer or earlier return of the rod I49 completes theoperation of the mechanism as this permits the arm 99 to return to theposition shown in Fig. 1, and the device is ready for the nextactuation.

It will be appreciated that the operation of the device for 1/2d. isidentical with that described for 2/4d., except that the plug I55 willcomplete the circuit to the locking elements of one or more 1/2d.drawers.

With a device as above described, should it be found necessary to sellthe articles at a different price, it is only necessary to open thevending machine, move a plug to the revised price, say from 1/2d. to 1/2d, i. e. socket 28 to socket 29, and the machine is then operable at thenew price.

i ll The device as so far described permits of constructinga coin freedvending machine suitable for selling articles at 1 different prices, theexamples given being 1 2d. and'2/4d, but itis clear that the machine mayinclude drawers all operable at one price ora'plurality of prices bymerely removing plugsfor, providing additional plugs (such as I) andprovidin the corresponding locking units, and it is also clear that anyone articlemay readilybeadjusteri to sell at a different price by movingplug from one sooketto another. 1 I

Referring to the operation of the solenoids in general, it will beappreciatedthat the length of stroke of solenoids I and 2 is ofconsiderable importance, that is to say, solenoid I has to move exactlysix teeth and solenoid 2 has tomoye only 1. Further, the force exertedby a solenoid is considerable and also the force necessary "to; returnit quickly after operation is considerable. The speed is necessary toallow for a subsequent operation. e

Bearing the above points in mind and referring to Fig. 1, the limitationof the solenoid I to six teeth is clearly controlled by the stops I6 andH, but as the spring I3 is strongenough to return the member 9 veryquickly from the chain line position, there is a possibility that thedisc will over-run, since the springs on the pawls 25, 6B are relativelylight, and so drag past the pawl 25 and turn through an anglecorresponding to say seven or more teeth. The chief object of holdingthe pawl 25 closely against the disc 38 (only .002 clearance) by thestop 93 is t avoid the over-running.

The stroke of the solenoid 2 is controlled by the spring I56 and thewasher I51 combined with the adjustment provided by the nut I58 whichresults in the tappet II only being able to move through a distancecorresponding to one tooth. If necessary means may be provided toprevent the tappet overdriving the totaliser, e. g. by the means set outin the specification of my co-pending application No. 586,408.

As regards the solenoids I I! and H8, it is only necessary in this caseto bring the arms I30 and I3I clear of the drawers I26 and I2! so thatthe exact control of the solenoids is unnecessary. Other features of theapparatus herein described are claimed in the specifications of thecopending applications referred to below:

No. 585,622, now abandoned, relates to .a method of coupling the coincomputing device with a plurality of article delivery mechanisms so asto obtain effective control thereof without involving complex electriccircuits.

No. 586,408 refers to coins of different value transmitting their motionto the totaliser through a common driving member of variable stroke.

In No. 586,409, now abandoned, overdriving of the totaliser due to theenergy of motion is prevented by locking the driving pawl to thetotaliser at the end of the driving stroke.

No. 588,493, now abandoned, refers to the use of plug and socketconnections in the electric circuits for controlling the locking means,to permit of steady adjustment in the price of the articles to be sold.

What I claim is:

1. In coin controlled apparatus, a coin computing device comp-rising atotaliser, a reciprocatory member for imparting uni-directional movementto the totaliser, a non-return member that normally engages thetotaliser to prevent return motion thereof, means dependent on thepassage of coinage into the coin controlled apparatus for driving thereciprocatory member whereby the totaliser is displaced from its initialposition in accordance with the total value of the coinage inserted,biasing means tending to return the totaliser to its initial position, adisengaging member that is normally clear of the non-return member,means dependent on the operation of the coin-controlled apparatus fordisplacing said disengaging member so that it disengages the non-returnmember from the totaliser, a detaining member adapted normally to holdthe disengaging member when the latter is thus displaced, and means onthe totaliser for moving the detaining member clear of the disengagingmember when the totaliser has returned to its initial position, wherebysaid disengaging memher then again moves clear of the non-return memberand the latter then re-engages the totaliser.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and a pawl on the reciprocatorymember for engaging it with the totaliser, the arrangement being suchthat the disengaging member is normally clear of said pawl but whendisplaced disengages said pawl from the totaliser.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the totaliser comprises arotary toothed disc.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the disengaging member isconstituted by a slide.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the disengagin member isconstituted by a. slide, and the detaining member is constituted by apivoted lever.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and a pivoted lever constituting thedetaining member, a tail on said pivoted lever, and lu on the totaliseradapted to strike the tail as the totaliser returns to its initialposition.

HENRY JAMES DOLMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

